Is Finding God Really So Hard?
Sometimes I think we humans have a tendency to make things harder than they need to be.
I've been thinking a lot lately about what it means to seek God and to find Him. I've come to the rather simple conclusion that finding God and coming to really know Him is done by prayer, scripture study, obeying His commandments, and generally living the gospel. It's easy to think we have to study a lot of philosophy and commentary by experts (so-called) and investigate a lot of religions and so forth. When we do that, though, I think we are actually seeking ourselves. That is, we are looking for ideas and philosophies that are agreeable to us and that are simple to do or to think, requiring little or no action on our part.
If we like to study, but are a bit on the lazy side about serving others or otherwise obeying God, it's easy to occupy our time "looking" for God, hoping to find an easy God who asks little of us. God is merciful and long-suffering, but He is not an indulgent grandfather who is okay with us doing or not doing what we please, regardless of what that is. God loves us and wants us to grow and progress and become the best that we can in all areas. Common sense, as well as the scriptures, let us know that that is not always easy. We have duties, obligations, responsibilities, stewardships. We are accountable for our choices, if not now, then eventually.
Man-made ideas and philosophies and solutions may sound good, but are they really good and right and true? Do they really bring out the best in us and help us to find the real God, the one that wants so much for us to return to Him and to have a joyous eternity? As we think things through, we begin to see the shortcomings of man's notions and to understand that following an omniscient, omnipotent God who loves us is where we will find all good things, including God Himself.
I've been thinking a lot lately about what it means to seek God and to find Him. I've come to the rather simple conclusion that finding God and coming to really know Him is done by prayer, scripture study, obeying His commandments, and generally living the gospel. It's easy to think we have to study a lot of philosophy and commentary by experts (so-called) and investigate a lot of religions and so forth. When we do that, though, I think we are actually seeking ourselves. That is, we are looking for ideas and philosophies that are agreeable to us and that are simple to do or to think, requiring little or no action on our part.
If we like to study, but are a bit on the lazy side about serving others or otherwise obeying God, it's easy to occupy our time "looking" for God, hoping to find an easy God who asks little of us. God is merciful and long-suffering, but He is not an indulgent grandfather who is okay with us doing or not doing what we please, regardless of what that is. God loves us and wants us to grow and progress and become the best that we can in all areas. Common sense, as well as the scriptures, let us know that that is not always easy. We have duties, obligations, responsibilities, stewardships. We are accountable for our choices, if not now, then eventually.
Man-made ideas and philosophies and solutions may sound good, but are they really good and right and true? Do they really bring out the best in us and help us to find the real God, the one that wants so much for us to return to Him and to have a joyous eternity? As we think things through, we begin to see the shortcomings of man's notions and to understand that following an omniscient, omnipotent God who loves us is where we will find all good things, including God Himself.
Labels: God, personal reflection
posted by Mary A | 11:15 AM
6 Comments:
I think the problem is that people want a God who doesn't want them to repent.
Stephen, I would agree with that. Repentance is hard--it would be easier on a person to find a God that did not require repentance.
Something else that may enter a bit into people's searches for God is the desire for something different and exotic. If someone has grown up LDS, or been a member for a long time, that person may find what they are familiar with boring or take it for granted and so seek out the unfamiliar, thinking somehow that it would be better. To me, there is so much to the gospel that it could never be dull. I am always gaining new insights and learning new things. I think that the more one studies the gospel, the more interesting and useful and helpful it is. And certainly it can be a challenge to overcome flaws and sins and mistakes--nothing dull there, either!
Thanks for your comment!
What Stephen said and add a God that doesn't hold something wrong in the first place and hence no need to repent. Look at the churches that claim no revelation, now deciding that homosexual marriage is right. If you claim no revelation and maintain that the heavens are closed how can your 'God' tell that this conduct is now acceptable. This is not God's religion, this is man's religion.
I would not like to be in their shoes and stand before the Judgement Seat and explain how I felt that I had the authority to change things
JR
God is easy to find but, first you must truly want to find Him.
JR, you make a good point about revelation. I also like your point that we first need to really want to find God.
I think Stephen really hit the nail on the head about repentance and what you say goes along with that.
No repentance. No commit. No change of thought and deed. No sacrifice. No responsibility at all for how you will be "saved". Give it to Jesus through one prayer and you're set.
Some "find God" only to leave Him through apathetic conversion. Others find Christ, but will never know the Father, because they refuse to believe there is more.
s'mee, you make good points. It's a funny thing, but those who seek an easy and agreeable way miss finding God, but those who are willing to commit and take responsibility and repent will indeed find God. There is something about the willingness to find God as He is and not as we think He ought to be to suit ourselves that makes Him a reality in our lives. When we are humble enough to make His will our aim, rather than our own will, then we find the truth.
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